Petition to reduce maximum speed on Jalan Tanjong Bunga between Mercure Hotel and Hillside

Residents’ Petition to JKR to reduce maximum speed on Jalan Tanjong Bunga between Mercure Hotel and Hillside (Puncak Bukit Mutiara).

Traffic on Jalan Tanjong Bunga has multiplied over the last few years. It passes through a residential area with condominiums, schools, nurseries, hotels, restaurants, workshops, houses, bus stops, etc., which generate vehicle and pedestrian traffic onto this road. In addition, Jalan Tanjong Bunga has become a major cycling route in Penang.

 

 The section of Jalan Tanjong Bunga between Mercure Hotel and Hillside is only safe to drive at 50km/h maximum. The road surface is uneven and has narrowing lanes; there are sharp bends, adverse cambers and several hidden junctions (Diamond Villa entrance, other residential entrances, Penang Swimming Club, Diamond Villa hidden exit and Jalan Abbas turnings). Higher speeds are extremely dangerous and have resulted in many accidents in recent months, some of them very serious.

Upside down car next to Sri Golden Bay

Mercedes crashes on divider Diamond Villa

This section of road is known as the “Mini-Sepang” for illegal high-speed driving and people come from all over Malaysia on the weekends to race by motorbike or car on this section of Jalan Tanjong Bunga late at night and sometimes even during daytime.

Fortunately, recent accidents happened late at night when no cyclists or pedestrians were present, as the accidents could have killed or seriously injured any innocent person who happened to be crossing or was on the footpath at the time.

We, residents, request JKR to take immediate steps (speed limit signs and speed cameras) to improve safety by reducing vehicle speeds, before serious accidents may cause injuries or death to innocent people, as well as the destruction of public or private property.

We request JKR to consider the following safety measures. However, since JKR is expert in road management, it may also have additional solutions to address the dangerous situation on Jalan Tanjong Bunga:

1. Institute maximum speed limit of 50km/h on S-bend section (Mercure Hotel to Hillside) in both directions.

2. Install clearly visible speed limit signs every 200m along this section of Jalan Tanjong Bunga. Consider painting 50km/j on the road surface so no-one can say they did not see.

3. There is only one speed limit sign between Mercure Hotel and Tanjong Bunga Market and it is near the market. Hence, we also request JKR to improve speed limit signage on the section from Hillside to Tanjong Bunga Market with clearly visible 60km/j signs, including repeater signs every 200m in both directions to deter speeding;

4. Solid white line lane dividers to prevent “weaving” on the bending section;

5. Improve enforcement measures including "speed kamera operasi zon" signs in both directions; installation of speed cameras and traffic light cameras at critical locations.

The Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association (TBRA) raises these concerns with the hope to prevent accidents involving deaths of cyclists or pedestrians. Furthermore, the damage to public property from these accidents is wasting taxpayers’ money.

TBRA urges all condominiums along Jalan Tanjong Bunga to join. Individual residents are also encouraged to sign.

Signed or approved by:

Sri Golden Bay Management  Committee

Diamond Villas Management  Committee